STUART Pearce believes that on current form Liverpool are the best team in England.

The Blues boss has warned his men that they will have to improve again from their impressive Cup performance at Aston Villa if they are going to maintain their challenge for a top-six place by avoiding defeat at Anfield.

City, who pulled off a shock win at Liverpool two seasons ago, may welcome back full-backs Ben Thatcher and Danny Mills to the squad and have not ruled out a return from injury for midfielder Claudio Reyna.

"We are going to have to step up again," declared Pearce. "I think Liverpool at present are the hardest team in the country to beat and I include Chelsea in that.

"When I was waiting for the FA Cup draw they were the team I wanted to avoid.

"I watched them against United in the Cup and they have everything. They have physical presence, defend well as a whole XI and have pace and vast experience.

Unit

"It was a close game when we played them at our place and they nicked it 1-0 and there is no doubt we will have our hands full, but we have to go there and try and get something if we are to achieve the league position that we want.

"They are a well-organised unit and when you watch them you cannot pick too many holes.

"Despite what happened in Benfica they might even retain the European Cup because they are difficult to beat.

"We will be going there with our confidence high after the way we played, especially in the first half, at Villa and if we can win at Anfield it would give us the greatest possible lift for the rest of the season."

Pearce and Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez are both likely to name their beanpole central strikers Georgios Samaras and Peter Crouch in their sides.

"There are similarities between the two, but Crouchie has vastly more experience," said Pearce. "You have to take into account that Georgios is still only a baby at 20.

"We are happy we have got Georgios and feel as though he will carry on improving and I will be judged on that sometime in the future."

The Greek, whose first senior international call-up has coincided with him arriving at City from Dutch side Heerenveen, has impressed Pearce with his attitude and the speed at which he has adapted to life in Manchester.

"I thought Georgios' performance at Villa was the best for us since he came here," Pearce said.

"I still feel as though he has a lot to learn to be a professional footballer but, make no mistake, he wants to be a player. I knew that from day one.

"I thought last summer we lacked legs to get in behind teams so I signed Darius Vassell from Villa, and this season I felt we lacked the option of a really big target man up front.

"The great thing about Georgios is that he has got a little bit of everything. For a man with such size and stature he has a good touch on the ball.

"He needs to improve all the facets, his finishing, his touch and his timing of the final pass, but like Stevie Ireland, like Micah Richards and like Joey Barton he still has room for improvement and that is great for this football club."

Pearce has warned Samaras, and everyone else in the side, that they will not be automatic choices as the Blues pursue UEFA Cup qualification on two fronts. Only form and attitude will determine who starts and who doesn't.

Pressure

"I don't think there is a first and second choice at this club to be honest," he added.

"The only way you could determine that is at the end of the season when you count who has had the lions' share of appearances.

"At any one given time any player has an opportunity to play in the team. My captain (Sylvain Distin) and Richard Dunne are pretty regular, but they are the same as anyone else in that if their form dips they will be under pressure."

Liverpool will be without the suspended Jamie Carragher and midfielder Sissoko, who suffered a bad eye injury in Portugal. Skipper Steven Gerrard faces a late test.